Book description
'Sedaris is the premier observer of our world and its weirdnesses'
ADAM KAY
'Funnier and more heartbreaking than pretty much anything out there'
HADLEY FREEMAN, GUARDIAN
'The brilliance of David Sedaris' writing is that his very essence, his aura, seeps through the pages of his books like an intoxication cloud'
…
Why read it?
3 authors picked Calypso as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I only discovered David Sedaris' writings a couple of years ago, and already, I have pretty much read everything this man has scribbled. I love how he can take the tiniest moments, like a hotel elevator ride, and then blow it up into a hilarious life lesson.
His family sits at the center of his creative fodder, and his observations on life, death, and love are laugh-out-loud funny. This book is more than just a collection of essays; it is an artfully threaded story of the unique and sometimes complicated love he has for his family.
From Christina's list on believing in the existence of love.
I’m a big fan of Sedaris, and whether or not it is deserved, my work has been compared to his. I’ve read or listened to but always enjoyed his writing.
In this one, he deals with deeply personal moments, and yet he still makes me laugh. Humor has been a critical component in my life, getting me through the toughest of life’s adventures. Here, David gets dark as he delves into his family dynamics and his sister’s suicide.
This hit home as I, too, am one of six, and suicide has hit my family, although two generations before me. I…
From Mark's list on books that do not flinch when dealing with difficult circumstances.
I love humorists who give us more than just a laugh, and David Sedaris always goes beneath the surface of comical situations to find a deeper meaning.
I’m an only child, so it’s fascinating to me to read about the bliss and tragedy of being a member of a large family. This writer has elevated the craft of the personal essay like no other. What inspires me most about him is that is unapologetically himself – even when himself is weird and odd and almost creepy.
It has taken me a lifetime to learn to stop apologizing for who I…
From Annie's list on laughter and tears.
If you love Calypso...
These Blue Mountains
A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.
German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…
Want books like Calypso?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Calypso.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,366
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like Calypso, you might also like...
The Go-Giver
The Go-Giver tells the story of an ambitious young man named Joe who yearns for success. Joe is a true go-getter, though sometimes he feels as if the harder and faster he works, the further away his goals seem to be.
Desperate to land a key sale at the end…
The Last Whaler
This book is an elegiac meditation on the will to survive. Tor, a beluga whaler, and his wife, Astrid, a botanist specializing in Arctic flora, are stranded during the dark season of 1937-38 at his remote whaling station in the Svalbard archipelago when they misjudge ice conditions and fail to…
